Macedonian Orthodox Church

The Macedonian Orthodox Church – Ohrid Archbishopric or simple Macedonian Orthodox Church (Macedonian: Македонска Православна Црква - Охридска Архиепископија; transliteration: Makedonska Pravoslavna Crkva - Ohridska Arhiepiskopija) is the body of Christians who are united under the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, exercising jurisdiction over Macedonian Orthodox Christians in the Republic of Macedonia and in exarchates in the Macedonian diaspora.

In 1959, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church afforded autonomy to the Orthodox Church in the-then Socialist Republic of Macedonia as the restoration of the historic Archbishopric of Ohrid, and it remained in canonical unity with the Serbian Church under their Patriarch. In 1967, on the bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the Archbishopric of Ohrid, the Macedonian Church unilaterally announced its autocephaly and independence from the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Serbian Holy Synod denounced the decision and condemned the clergy as schismatic. Since then, despite various Orthodox and ecumenical efforts, the Macedonian Orthodox Church has remained unrecognized by all other national Orthodox churches (in defense of Serbian opposition) and by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.